CENTRE FOR ANIMAL HEALTH STUDIES

POULTRY DISEASE DIAGNOSIS AND SURVEILLANCE LABORATORY, NAMAKKAL

Namakkal is the most densely populated layer producing region in India and occupying first place in egg production at National level. The Namakkal zone has a layer poultry population of approximately 70 million which produce nearly 60 million eggs per day. The 95% of table egg export of India is originating from Namakkal to countries like UAE, Qatar, Oman, and South Africa. Broiler industry is growing well in neighboring districts of Namakkal mainly Tiruppur and Coimbatore districts of Tamil Nadu where the grant parent, parent and commercial broilers are reared. The broiler chicks and hatching eggs are sold to different part of India and also exported to foreign countries.

To sustain the poultry industry in this area, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Coimbatore established a center called Poultry Research cum Investigation center on 04.09.1979. It became one of the constituent units of Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (TANUVAS) when it was bifurcated from TNAU on 20. 09. 1989 and renamed as Avian Disease Laboratory. To cater the increasing demand of poultry farmers, the laboratory further started disease surveillance activities and renamed as Poultry Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance Laboratory (PDDSL) on 01.12.2010 by TANUVAS.

At present, the PDDSL, Namakkal involving in the diagnosis of the existing and emerging diseases by providing post mortem service, isolation and identification of causative organisms, serological tests such as HA, HI, ELISA and molecular diagnostic test like PCR. To create awareness among the poultry farmers on poultry diseases and management, this laboratory is regularly conducting technical meet and training programmes. Apart from that weekly poultry disease forecasting is regularly carried out through newspapers for the benefit of poultry industry.

OBJECTIVES

Post-mortem examination and laboratory diagnosis of poultry diseases.
Sero monitoring of Newcastle disease and Infections Bronchitis viral infections in poultry.
Surveillance of common diseases prevailing in commercial poultry farms.
Screening of Salmonella of zoonotic importance in poultry and related products.
Monitoring the health management in commercial poultry farms..
To aid in the post graduate research in poultry disease management.

Infrastructure

The laboratory is mainly concern with the diagnosis and control of poultry diseases and has well equipped bacteriology, virology, serology and molecular diagnostic units.

Salient Achievements

A self-financing scheme on “Holistic health management in commercial poultry through diagnostic, preventive and biosecurity interventions” is implemented for the benefit of the poultry farmers of Namakkal region.
Filter paper techniques for collection of blood serum for estimating the antibody titre for ND and IB is being adopted routinely at PDDSL, Namakkal.
Screening of Avian Influenza (AI) test by RT-PCR on clinical samples sent through AQCS, Chennai for the purpose of egg export.
A technique on use of trypsin enzyme for activation of IB virus for conducting HI test.
A laboratory for screening of Salmonella of host specific and of zoonotic importance was established. Serotypes such as Salmonella Newport, Salmonella Enteritidis and Salmonella Typhimurium was identified from poultry and poultry related products.
A rapid multiplex molecular diagnostic tool was developed for the detection of Salmonella organisms in poultry and its related products.
A molecular diagnostic laboratory was created for detection of economically important poultry diseases.
Identification of Brachyspira pilosicoli from commercial layers by PCR
Identification of Leucocytozoon caulleryi from commercial layer flocks by PCR

Service to the Poultry Farmers of Nominal Cost Basis

S.No	Name of the Test	Cost per Sample (in Rs.)
1.	Post mortem examination	10.00
2.	Serology for Newcastle Disease (ND) -(HI)(Filter paper blood sample)	5.00
3.	Serology for Infectious Bronchitis (IB) -(HI)(Filter paper blood sample)	5.00
4.	Serology for Newcastle Disease (ND) -(HI)(Serum)	10.00
5.	Serology for Infectious Bronchitis (IB) -(HI)(Serum)	10.00
6.	Serology for Newcastle disease (RD) -(HI)(Egg)	10.00
7.	Serology for Infectious Bronchitis (IB) -(HI)(Egg)	10.00
8.	Detection of ND virus -(HA)	10.00
9.	Detection of IB virus -(HA)	10.00
10.	Detection of Infectious Bursal Disease virus(IBD) virus -(AGPT)	10.00
11.	Culture tests - Feed, Feed ingredients, feed additives and organs
	a) E.coli	100.00
	b) Staphylococcus	100.00
	c) Clostridium	100.00
	d) Salmonella	200.00
12.	Water analysis	50.00
13	Cultural examination of clinical materials	100.00
14.	Antibiotic sensitivity test (ABST)	100.00
15.	Shed environment microbiology - Plate exposure test	50.00
16	Total Microbial count	250.00
17.	Total Coliform count	250.00
18.	Vaccine potency test	50.00
19.	Farm visit	100.00
20.	PCR Test for HPAI	1200.00
21.	PCR Test for Economically Important Poultry Pathogens	1200.00

Research

Completed Research Projects

Part II Scheme on Construction of building for Avian Disease Laboratory at Veterinary College and Research Institute Campus, Namakkal
Isolation and Pathological Characterization of Gallibacterium anatis in Poultry
Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Avibacterium paragallinarum in Poultry
Development of multiplex PCR for differential diagnosis of respiratory-immunosuppressive disease complex in poultry” funded by DST
GOI-SERB-DST Scheme on Multiplex PCR for detection of infectious agents associated with egg shell apex abnormalities in layer chicken by DST
TANUVAS Sub-project “Antibiogram and Molecular characterization of bacteria causing egg peritonitis in Poultry” was completed
Indo-UK, DBT-ESRC collaborative project on Chicken or Egg: Drivers of AMR in Poultry in India (DARPI)
GCRF One Health Poultry Hub
Understanding the emergence of variant infectious bronchitis virus in chickens in UK and India: shared control strategies in BBSRC India Partnering scheme
Accelerating Bovine tuberculosis control in developing countries -India (AbTb CD)

Ongoing Research Projects - National

A project entitled “Molecular epidemiology and disease surveillance in broiler mortalities in South India with special reference to Infectious Bursal Disease (Scheme Code: 23319)” for Rs. 10,15,500/- funded by CEVA Polchem Pvt Ltd, Pune.

Continuous University Schemes

A self-financing scheme on Holistic health management in commercial poultry through diagnostic, preventive and biosecurity interventions
The lab coordinates with other units of TANUVAS in the schemes such as on “Starting of Experimental, Agro Meteorological Advisory Service” functioning at Department of Livestock Production and Management, VC&RI, Namakkal and Veterinary Type culture under tribal sub plan scheme of VRC-VV

Outreach

Hands on technical training are given on poultry diseases diagnosis to Internship students of TANUVAS, Veterinary graduates and laboratory technicians.
Training is being given to CAS trainees of Poultry Science Department, Veterinary College and Research Institute, Namakkal.
Forecasting poultry diseases/health management are delivered to farmers every week through local newspapers
Messages on poultry diseases are telecast through AIR, Tiruchirappalli, FM radio, Kodaikanal, local TV channels and Pothigai TV channel for the benefit of the poultry farmers.

Current Focus

Screening of Salmonella species of zoonotic importance under international standards for the benefit of the poultry product exporters.
Molecular confirmation of Avian pathogens.
Research on respiratory immunosuppressive viruses of poultry.
Antimicrobial resistance and food safety

FACULTY

Name of the Faculty	Designation	E-mail	Mobile#
GOPALA KRISHNA MURTHY, T.R.	PROFESSOR AND HEAD	gkmurthy_in@yahoo.com	9442263268
SARAVANAN, S.	PROFESSOR	saravaa3@gmail.com	9443275704
THANGAPANDIYAN, M.	PROFESSOR	sugigold@gmail.com	9444660418
PREMKUMAR, K.	VETERINARY OFFICER	vediprem@gmail.com	9443194683

The Head of the Department,
Poultry Disease Diagnosis and Surveillance Laboratory,
Namakkal - 637 002.
Phone: 04286-266 226.
E-mail: adl-vcri@tanuvas.org.in